Portuguese is a language full of colourful expressions that often leave learners scratching their heads - or laughing out loud. Here are 15 idioms that prove Brazilians and Portuguese speakers have a knack for turning everyday situations into comedy gold.
1. “Matar a cobra e mostrar o pau”
Matar a cobra e mostrar o pau
/maˈtaɾ a ˈkɔbɾa i moʃˈtaɾ u ˈpaw/“To kill the snake and show the stick”
Imagine finishing a huge project and then waving the evidence in everyone’s face. That’s the spirit.
2. “Quem não tem cão caça com gato”
Quem não tem cão caça com gato
/kẽj̃ nɐ̃w̃ tɐ̃j̃ ˈkɐ̃w̃ ˈkasa kõ ˈɡatu/“Who doesn’t have a dog hunts with a cat”
It’s the Portuguese version of “necessity is the mother of invention,” but with more questionable pet choices.
3. “A vaca foi pro brejo”
A vaca foi pro brejo
/a ˈvaka foj pɾu ˈbɾeʒu/“The cow went to the swamp”
Use this when your plans collapse spectacularly - preferably while sighing dramatically.
4. “Pagar o pato”
Pagar o pato
/paˈɡaɾ u ˈpatu/“To pay the duck”
Next time your sibling blames you for eating the last biscuit, mutter “Estou pagando o pato” and storm off.
5. “Ficar a ver navios”
Ficar a ver navios
/fiˈkaɾ a ˈveɾ naˈvjus/“To be left watching ships”
Use it when your friend says they’ll “be there in five minutes” and shows up an hour later.
6. “Quem vê cara não vê coração”
Quem vê cara não vê coração
/kẽj̃ ˈve ˈkaɾa nɐ̃w̃ ˈve koɾaˈsɐ̃w̃/“Who sees the face doesn’t see the heart”
Handy when someone underestimates you because you showed up to a meeting in sweatpants.
7. “Estar com a macaca”
Estar com a macaca
/iʃˈtaɾ kõ a maˈkaka/“To be with the monkey”
When your boss cancels Friday drinks, you’re officially “com a macaca.”
8. “Chorar as pitangas”
Chorar as pitangas
/ʃoˈɾaɾ aʃ piˈtɐ̃ɡaʃ/“To cry the pitangas”
Deploy this when someone complains about their latte being 1°C too cold.
9. “Fazer uma vaquinha”
Fazer uma vaquinha
/faˈzeɾ ˈumɐ vaˈkiɲa/“To make a little cow”
Use it when splitting a pizza bill or funding your friend’s questionable startup idea.
10. “Comer com os olhos”
Comer com os olhos
/koˈmeɾ kõ uz ˈoʎuʃ/“To eat with the eyes”
Every time someone brings cake to the office, this is your default state.
11. “Encher linguiça”
Encher linguiça
/ẽˈʃeɾ lĩˈɡisɐ/“To fill sausage”
If your essay hits the word count with three paragraphs of “the,” you’ve mastered it.
12. “Tirar o cavalo da chuva”
Tirar o cavalo da chuva
/tiˈɾaɾ u kaˈvaɫu da ˈʃuva/“To take the horse out of the rain”
When your DIY project collapses, it’s time to “tirar o cavalo.”
13. “Pensando na morte da bezerra”
Pensando na morte da bezerra
/pẽˈsɐ̃du na ˈmɔɾtɐ da beˈzeʁa/“Thinking about the death of the calf”
Use it when you’re caught staring into space during a meeting.
14. “Cair o cu da bunda”
Cair o cu da bunda
/kaˈiɾ u ˈku da ˈbũda/“For the arse to fall off”
Reserve this for truly jaw-dropping moments, like when your cat brings home a live squirrel.
15. “Ficar de molho”
Ficar de molho
/fiˈkaɾ dʒi ˈmoʎu/“To stay in the sauce”
When you call in sick to binge Netflix, you’re officially “de molho.”
